Grid cutting and forming machine



Feb. 19, 1952 R. A. ENGLERT GRID CUTTING AND FORMING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l wk. l. Q @SV L@ N NM., Wm A@ Filed June 14, 1945 m um; N 7 N m Nimm w @um 1Q qu @N @M w l I: .I H WN Bmww n@ QN vm 5N @n o@ um MH Im N Sm NN N NQ @n E h. on In E Q TIIQIIKQf e um, www www Q 5 u 1l m/ QN@ KN@ Hal/11i: EngZer MM myn/ TTOR/YEY Feb. 19, 1952 R. A. ENGLERT 2,585,629

GRID CUTTING AND FORMING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Feb. 19, 1952 R, A ENGLERT v 2,586,629

GRID CUTTING AND FORMING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 uw" C INVENTOR.

GRID CUTTING AND FORMING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1945 Patented Feb. 19, 1952 GRID CUTTING AND FORMING MACHINE Ralph A. Englert, Mill Hall, Pa., assigner to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Emporium, Pa., a. corporation of Massachusetts Application `une 14, 1945, Serial No. 599,481

forming devices and more particularly to. an

apparatus combining both these features v'and adapted to the cutting and forming of grids, especially relatively small grids used as electrodes in radio tubes and the like. 1 t Grids of the character just above referred to are formed of two spaced parallel wires compris/',- ing posts around which a iine wire is coiled', ,the successive convolutions lying in spaced grooves formed in the posts, in most instances by a cutteroperating just in advance of the Wire as it is wound, these grooves alternating with ridges which by a swaging tool are laid over the transverse windings to securely lock them in place and against unwinding. A grid thus formed becomes practically integral in construction.

The present method of making these grids is to wind them in comparatively long strips on lathesdesigned for such purpose and later, on a manually operable device to cut the strips into unit lengths. In the winding and swaging operations provision is made whereby, after the cutting has been done, loose ends of the ne wire are left so as to be broken 01T and leave unwound that portion of the posts to be inserted'in the grid supporting means. i

For convenience and economy, and to reduce handling of the grids to a minimum the manually ,operable cutting device is associated with the winding lathe in such manner that the operative'handling the lathe can, while a strip is being automatically wound, cut a previously wound strip into unit lengths, trim off the loose ends; and place the grids into individual lcompartments of a suitable tray.

lThe winding lathe also has a mandrel centered longitudinally between the supporting V wires which,'when cut, form the side posts of the grid. This mandrel in conjunction with the side wires determines -the cross sectional area of the grid. Insome instances, however, the nal shape tfo be given they grid is such that its transverse contour carinotbeformed over the mandrel in the windingoperation in which event the work is necessarily f's'ubj'ected to an additional forming operation. And, it is with grids required to be reshaped in this manner that my invention is concerned. At present these grids, after being cut and trimmed, are transferred in trays to a second operative who runs them individually through a forming device.

To accomplish then in one operation and by one person, with certain shapes of grids, what has heretofore required two operations and as 16 claims. flcl. 14o-71.6)

2 many operatives, is one of the objects. of the invention.

In accomplishing the aforesaid object, additional handling of the work is eliminated and this of itself is an important object of the invention because of the delicate construction of the grid and its liability to distortion whenever handled. 1

A further object of the invention is the provision of a grid cutting and vforming device so constructed that it may be. readily substituted for the present manually operable grid cutter hereinabove referred to.

Another and important object of the invention is the employment, in a punch press or forming device for the' purpose set forth, of the support wires of the work pieceas parts of the die member and to associate with the opposing forming slides, or punch members, a cutting means whereby the complete'operation of cutting and forming the grid leaves no distortion of the support wires at their sheared ends.

And, a still further object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe character described which will be of few parts,` simple in construction, positive in operation and not liable to derangement.

To these ends the invention consists of certain parts and combinations'of parts as will be fully set forth in the following'-jdescription and particularly defined in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrating the invention and forming a part of the specification are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing one modiiication of the invention-but with the thrust sustaining side brackets removed.

Fig. 2 is a view partly` in side elevation and partly in vertical section online 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryA sectional detail of the forming slide housing and shows in end view the adjustable stop screw and locking means associated therewith.

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged side and end views, respectively, of one of the completely formed grids.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view drawn to full size of the right hand end of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 but with the cover plates for the forming slides removed and with other parts broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 'l--l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing in front elevation the cutting knives in substantially their outermost position, the forming slides to which the knives are attached and the adjustable stop for the grid strip.

Fig. is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but of another modication of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section on lineH-l i, Fig. l0.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view o fthe slide and its guide members as taken on line l2-l2, Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a transverse section of the grid strip support seen in Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary showing partly in top plan view and partly in horizontal section on that is, to the left 'with respect to Figs. l and 2,

. by screws 35 is a block 35 which extends across line Ill-I4, Fig. 11, of the right hand end of the machine seen in Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 15 is a greatly enlarged side elevation ofr one end of a grid strip showing the support wires' in abutment with the combined locating and adjustable stop screw, the latter being shown in central section. Y

Fig. 1'6 is an end view from the right of the parts seen in Fig. l5 and also shows fragmentary portions of the forming members in open or inoperative position. y Y Fig. 17 is a. view similar to Fig. 16 but with the forming members in closed position.

18 is a sectional view on line l-I8 of Fig. 14. ,Y

Fig. 19 is an enlarged view showing the forming face of the slide insert seen at the left in Fig. 18, 4and Fig. 2O is a horizontal sectional detail of the cutting members in position to sever a grid strip which latter is illustrated in edge View.

In the Vdrawings similar reference numerals refer to rsimilar parts throughout the several viw's.

Referring first to Figs. l to 9, inclusive:

The numeral I represents a base plate which, Ain this instance, is of rectangular form. Extending longitudinally of the base and secured thereto adjacent its side edges are a pair of guide rails 3 between which and held in sliding engagement with the base by inturned anges 5 on the Vrails is a U-shaped carriage indicated generally by the numeral 5 and comprising par'- allel side arms 8 and a cross bar 9. Centrally disposed on the bar 9 and rigidly secured thereto is a block IIJ into which is threaded the outer end of the piston rod I4 of an air cylinder l5 having a packing gland IB through which the rod is slidablel Movement of the carriage forward and back is effected by reciprocationof the piston, not shown, in the cylinder I5, the cross bar 9 abutting a fixed stop l1 on completion of the return movementof the carriage. The air conduits I3 and I9 lead from a valve controlled by a foot treadle which, with the valve, is of known construction and operation and for that reason not shown in the drawings.

Pi-voted at 20 to the forward end of each side arm 8 of the carriage is one end of a link 2l which, at its other end, has pivotal connection by stud 22 with the outer bifurcated end of one of a pair of forming slides 23, 24 mounted for reciprocating movement in a direction at right 4angles to that of the carriage. These members 23 and 24 are guided for sliding movement in the channel 25 of a housing 25, the center portions of the channel walls being cut away at 21 and 28 for the inner and outer side walls, respectively, but toa less depth than the channel lso that continuous guiding surfaces remain for :the slide members as is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. Covering 'the channel 25 for the opening 2l and 'is formed with an upwardly D opening channel 3l for slidably receiving a plunger 38. This channel is closed at one end by a removable plate 3S arranged within the opening 2! and at its other end by a removable cap 4Q. The channel 3l has a removable cover plate 4l and housed within the channel between fthe plunger 3S and end cap 40 is a coiled compression spring 42 functioning normally to urg 'the plunger forward against the plate 39. One 'side of the plunger 38 is recessed longitudinally 'at 43 and cut in the bottom wall of such recess is a slot for receiving the inner end of a man- 'drel 44 which is held in place by a clamp v45 fitted to the recess 43 and tightened against the mandrel by screws 46, see Fig. 8. The term mandrel is A`here intended to mean a body of any shape about which the work may be bent by the forming slides. A The mandrel extends forward through an axially aligned aperture in a knurled head thumb screw 4'! threaded into the plate 3B which latter has a saw cut 48, as shown in Fig. 3, and a lock screw 49 whereby there may be eifected a binding of the plate on the thumb screw to lock the screw in its position of adjustment, the mandrel projecting beyond the head of the screw a distance equal to the length' of grid unit to be cut and such adjustment of the screw permitting a predetermined slight variation in such length.

The grid strip', or workpiece, includes spaced parallel wires 50 and a cage-like winding of ne wire 5l. Such a strip as processed on one type .of grid'vvinding lathe comprises the two spaced Vparallel'support wires '50 around which the ne wire 5! is wound at a constant pitch and over "a'centrally disposed mandrel, the successive confvolutions lying in spaced segmental grooves 52 'formed in the wires 50 by a cutting tool operating just in advance of the wire 5| as it is wound. And, following such winding, a swaging tool operates on the ridges formed alternately Iwith the grooves on the wires 50 to lock the A:transverse winding in place. At regularly spaced intervals longitudinally o'f the wires 50 the swagling tool does not function, thus leaving a pre'- `determined number of the grooves open, so that when the strip is cut into unit lengths 53, as indicated in Fig. 4, loose ends of the fine Wire will unwind from the open grooves. These ends are then broken off so as to leave unwound terminals on the posts 5i) at each end of the winding for insertion into the grid supporting means. The grid strip is supported for sliding move ment along a member extending to the right, with respect to Figs. 1 and 2, and including two bars 54 vand 55 secured together by screws 5B to form an angle plate, the bar 55 being the support upon which the grid stripis .placed edgewise and guided by a shoulder portion formed by the upperpart of the bar 54. Preferably 'the bar 55 is adjustable on the bar 54 so that the grid strip may be supported with its axis in true alignment with that of the mandrel 44. The inner end of bar 54 isfsecured by screws 51 to a plate 32a which in turn is rigidly seing a flaring mouthed counterbore which provides a recess 58 coaxial with the mandrel for centering the strip and against the bottom wall of which the wires 58 abut inthe manner illus trated more clearly in Fig. 15.

The opposing hardened'end faces of the slides 23 and 24 are grooved at 59 to `mate with the mandrel 44 which, in this instance, is shown as a round rod, and at 68 with shallower grooves paralleling the groove 59 for mating with the rods 50 which latter, it will lbeV observed, are spaced from the mandrel to provide open spaces for receiving the ridges formed on the slides between the grooves 59 and their respective grooves '68. Thus, with the grid strip engaging over the mandrel coaxially therewith, and with the side wires 50 lying in a plane coincident with the mandrel axis and at right angles to the direction of movement of the slides, the wires 59 of the work piece function with the mandrel as the die member of a press in which the punches, comprising the slides 23 and 24, bend the wire 5| against the die and into the spaces vbetween the mandrel 44 and wires 50, the result of which vis a reshaping of the transverse contour of the grid from that shown in Fig. 16 in Figs. 5 and 17. l As a means for shearing'the wires 58 a cutter to that shown vis secured to the Outer face of each forming slide. .In the modication of the invention now being referred to the' inner cutter 6| having a knife edge 62 is a comparatively narrow, flat bar set in a recess formed in the slide 24 and held to the slide by a clamp 63. A screw 64 extending through the slide from the rear and threaded into the clamp holds the latter in place and the Ythrust against the cutter is sustained by the shoulder 65 of the recess in which the cutter is set. The outer cutter blade 4is of somewhat heavier stock and comprises a body portion |6| fastened'by dat-head'screws |62 to the outer face of slide 23, and a pilot or linger |63 extending beyond the cutting edge |64 to ride in sliding vengagement with the outer face of the` cutter 6| and above the clamp 63. rIhis nger |63 acts also as a guide in feeding the 'work into slots in such plate and threaded into the block I8. The free, forward end of the latch is formedv with a detent 'I2` which travels in a slot 13 in the cover plate 4| of` the housing" member 36. -The latch in frontand in rear of the detent is formed with cam surfaces comprising the'b'evelledgedge portions 14 and l5, respectively. A

6 ibi coiled tension-spring 16 anchored at one end to the latch and at its other end to xed pin l1 exerts a downward pull on the latch. Operation of the device is as follows: The grid strip'guided along the supporting bars 54 and 55 is moved toward the left under the finger .|63 onto the mandrel 44 and into the.

locating recess 58 in the stop screw 41. Air is then admitted to the cylinder I5 Yto effect "a forward or operative movement of the carriage -6 whereupon the links 2|, exerting leverage on the slides 23 and 24, cause movement of the lat' ter toward each other to form the grid and of the cutters carried thereby to shear the wires 50. The cutters are so set that cutting action takes place slightlyH in advance of the forming,

although the operations are practically simultaneous. And, to help sustain the thrust exerted through the links 2| and side arms 8 of the carriage '6 against the guide rails 3, brackets 84, illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 but not shown in Fig. 1, are bolted to the sides of the base each such bracket having a screw extending therethrough into contact with a side .arm 8 and held in its desired position of adjustment by a lockl Latch 61 moves forward with the carriage 6, the detent l2 traveling in the slot 13 until thecam surface 'I4 engages the top rear edge of thefplunger 38 whereupon the latch rides on the plunger until the end of the stroke at which time the detent is over a cross channel 18 in the plunger and into which it drops by action of the spring 16. The latch, on reverse movement of the carriage, effects a withdrawal of the plunger and with it the mandrel 44 so that the grid unit 53 is permitted to drop through the opening 19 extending through the base and superimposed parts 32 and 26. Before the carriage reaches the end of its rearward movement and abuts the stop the cam surface '|5 of the latch rides on the end wall of the slot 'I3 to disengage the detent from the plunger and permit the latter under action of spring 42 to resume its normal position with the mandrel again extended forward of the stop screw 41.

The grid 53 being very light in weight is hastened in its fall through the opening 19 by the impingement of a jet of air directed against it from a tube 80 supported adjacent its discharge end in a bracket 8| secured to a supporting plate 82 mounted upon the cover plate 3U of housing 26. The grids may drop into any suitable receptacle, not shown, ralthough it is preferable that they fall into a chute, indicated at `83'in Fig. '7, from which they are successively presented to the operative who trims the loose ends of the grid wire and places the grids into individual compartments of a tray.

In Figs. 10, 1l, 12, 1|3, 14, 18 and 19 there is shown a modification of the invention involving the same principles of operation as in the modication hereinabove described, but so designed that the parts are fewer in number and in more compact relation. Also, provision is made for cutting and forming grids of different sizes. Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 20, it may be stated, are illustrative of both modifications of the invention.

The base is shown as a casting formed with a depending peripheral ange 9|, a raised portion 92- across its forward end, and on the under side adjacent its rear end with a pair of depending arms `93spaced one each side of a centrally dis-` posed opening 94.

The carriage includes a U -shaped member 95,

at 7 theside `arms 296 of Awhich 'are relatively short in comparison with those of the vcarriage 6 in Fig. 1. This meinber`95 constitutes across-'head secured to the reduced 'forward end Aof a 'centrally disposed, llcngitudinaflly 'extendingslide guided for reciprocating movement by parallel side rails 98 secured by screws 99 for relative adjustment toward and from each other 'on the base Se and arrangedlin rear Vof Hthe' raised part '92. The

side @faces of the slide 91 are hevelled and the adjacentV ones 'o'f the guides 98 are corresponde inglyformed So that the member 9.' is held in sliding engagement with the base et. l

Thevair cylinder IGGis mounted uponthe un; der side of the base and is reversedwit-h respect to the -cylinder shown in Figs. l -a'nd 2, that with the piston -rod I! extending rearwardly. In this View the 'piston is indicated at 81. rod f|0| is threaded into a spacer |02 between and `pivotally connected at 88 vto the 'side arms of a vertically arranged Vlever |03 fmounted at its lower end for oscillating movement on a shaft '89 supported inthe arms 93, its upper end extending through opening 94 in the base and into an clon-- gatedbpening |04 -in the slide 91 vto which latter 3 member it is pivotally connected at |95 through the medium'of ashort 'link |69 operating vinthe opening |64.

Pivetally-connected at |51 to the forward-end of each-side `arm 96 -is one end of a link 4Ifill which, v -I The at its other end, has'pivotal Iconnection at me with the bifurca'ted end of 'the corresponding one of a pair of slides and 'l I These slides are-guided for movement transversely of the rection of movement of the `carriage by the side walls"'||2 and ||'3 of a housing ||4 which, by screws |5 engaging through elongated 'slots H5 in the base thereof, is mounted or adjustment in the direction of movement of the slides, -upon theraised portion 92 of Ythe base.

4The slides l|10 and are shown as 'being Wider than the corresponding parts 23 and v24 seen in Figs. l, 2, and 6, the ypurpose of which "is that provision maybe made for cutting .grids of diierent lengths. To this end the grooves v59 and 60 for mating with the mandrel 44 andgrid support wires 50 lare cut in lthe opposing 'end -faces of the body portions H1 and H0 of hardened inserts ||9 and |20, respectively, for the slides ||0 and lll. The lengthof 4these g-rooved -portions is determined by the llength of grid to ybe cut. The inserts are removably attached to their respective slide members byserews |24 exe tending inwardly from the outer end faceskc the slides and threaded into the inserts. In the` outer side face ofvslide `thereis a longitudinali@ lly extending channel |22 adapted to receive e.'

clamp `|53 for holding lthe inner lcutter blade 6| in a recess formed therefor rin the -outer face of the insert |20, Athe clamp being held in place, in this-instance, by a screw |54a extending through an aperture in the clamp and threaded into the insert. Y

The outer side face of slide ||0 is recessed at |23 but part Way of its length so as to leave stock at |24 through which is threaded an ad- `justa-ble screw |25 on which 4is a lool: nut |25. This screw sustains the thrust exerted on an outer cutter similar to that shown in Fig. 9 in that it has a like cutting edge |54 and pilot iinger |6z. In this instance, however, this cutter member is adjustable toward and from the wcrklby having in its body portion |6| an elongated slot I2? through which a holding screw |28 passes and threaded into the insert 9. The channel formed by the side walls ||2 and |'|3 is provided'with removable'cover plates V|29 and |30, a bracket 3 being mounted .upon `plate |30 .for 'supporting the discharge end of the airline |f3`2.

-Side wall V|=|3 of Athe housing `|'|4 has its central portion cutaway at |33Jto receive the inner end of the werk support which is shown e. b'a'r |34 vhaving a longitudinally extending channel |35 in which the Vgrid Ystrip isguided on edge for :sliding movement, this bar adjacent itsIinner end beingsecured by screws |36 toa-block |31 v'carried by the housing. ,l

The wor-k -is fed vinto a locating recess 5|! fin the vend fface, thisfinstance, of a 'reduced'axal extension Hor ,pilot |38 of the knled head 'of 'an -adjustablefstopscrew |39, such recess being simi- :lar to-ancl-for the same purpose las'the recess "o' like numeral in the screw 41 of Figs'. 1, '2, '6, '7 and 9. This screw |39 is threaded into 'a block |40 `extending.; ac-ross the central opening "|4| of the side wall l |2 and Vsetuieil to th 'outer face of the wail by screws |42. A lock nut H von the screw |39 and bearing against the member |40 holds the screwin the "desired pcsitio'n'o'n Aaxial adjustment.

-In a housing |44 extending Vrearwardly ffm the .block |40 and secured'thereto by' screws |45 isa Ylongitudinally extending channel |46 for .siida'biy receiving a .pioneer |41, such charmer being vclosed at one end by the lblocl: '|40,at`1"ts other end' by -a 'removable cap |48 'and 'on its open side by 'a 'removable 'cover plate |49.

A mandrel, also .indicatedbylthe same numeral 44 as the like part in the -rst described mcdication of the invention. S'lidably extendsthr'ogh :axially laligned openings inthe block |40 and vscrew |39 and has its forward end projecting beyond the screw extension A|30 a. distance `'equal to the length of (grid to be out. 'Therear end of the mandrel extends into the Y.plunger |41 and is clamped 'thereto by any .suitable means as, in this-instance, .a plate |50 fitted to ar'ecess in a side of the plunger 'and drawn against the mandrel by'screwsv |"5|. The plungeris normally urged to its'iorward'positionagainstfthe block |40 by'a'coiledcompression'spring |52 interposed between 'the 'plunger and the end cap |48 V'and encircling' 'arod |53 extending rearwardly through aneper'ture'in theclosure |48 in'axial alignment with the mandrel. 'This vrod |53 is secured to 'the plunger |"41by a set screw |54 and fixed thereon adjacent its rear end is an 'axlallyadivA latch rssp'ivotedat r|51rrrtiockson the carriage slide member Y91 has a vdetent |58 'at 'its free end terminatinginan inclined 'surface |59, lthis latch normally "being held in "a 'substantially horizontal position against iastop bar `'byja .tension spring |65. Just'prior to completion 'by the carriage --f its forward movement the latch grid throughan opening 66, suchdischargeibeinjg vhastened 'by impingernent 'against the 'grid "df an air jet -fromthe `tube |32. lAnd just before completionof such `return movement, the latch Lby engagement of-adepending tail portion theredf with Van adjustable rstop screw 61 in i anarm `il 6'6 opstanding firom the base 90 "is released from 'the cll'ar 155, th'us vperrnitting the plunger under "action of 'Spring |52 `-to againcarry "the mandrel forward into operative position. A xed stop |69 vided a base upon which a carriage isrmountedd for reciprocating movement through its connection with the piston of anair cylinder; that such carriage includes a U-shaped member to the side .arms'of which are pivoted links which in turn, through their leverage action, impart reciprocating movement toward and from eachother of a .pair of opposing slides, the direction `of movement of the latter being transversely tothat of the carriage; that these slides constitute forming tools cooperating with a, mandrel and the side wires of` a grid strip to give form to the n'e wire of the grid; that these forming slides carry cutters for shearing the said side wires; that the ,mandrel is retracted to permit ejection of the y,work piece onmovement of the carriage to inoperative position; and, that just prior to completion of such inoperative movement theV mandrel is released to return under spring pressure to its operative position.

In Figs. 15, 16 and 17 `the body part in which -the locating recess 58 is formed is representative of either the stop screw 41 of the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and 6 to 9 inclusive, or

screw |39, the mandrel 44 and the plunger`l4'1, in the machine shown in Figs. 10,` 1'1 and 14, are

,interchangeable to meet the requirements necessitated by the size and shape of the grid to be cut and formed. That is, thesize and shape fof the mandrelto be used determines'the axial opening through the stop screw and plunger while thelength of the pilot extension |38 on' the sto'p screw is madel longer Vor shorter accordinglyV as Vthelerlgth of grid calls for shorter or longer form- 'ing faces H1 and I I8 on the inserts.

When used lin connection with a gridostrip winding lathe, the grid cutting'and forming device is substituted for the usual manually operable grid cutter and arranged either horizontally or at an angle whichever is most convenient for the operative when in a sitting position. f

Although I have shown and described particularembodiments of my invention, I 'do not desire to be limited to the embodiments described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all vmodiiications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A cutting and forming machine -ifor a'grid strip-including spaced parallel side wires -`around which is a cage-like winding of finer wire, said machine including a base, a stop-,'- means along which said grid strip is slidably supported for edgewise feeding movement against saidstop,

-two slides movable toward fand from'each other on said base transversely of the direction of saidl feed, means for effecting reciprocation of said fslides, cutters carried by said slides for severing that'portion of the grid strip betweensaid-stop and said cutters, and opposing end faces on said slidesformed to mate with said side wires and re-"shap'e-the transverse contour of the fine' wire 'winding of said severed grid strip portior'n v thrust sustaining stop vscrewwextending throu h der portion, a cutter set in said recess and adj-ust l0 machineincluding a base,.a stop, means along which said grid strip is slidably supported for edgewise feeding movement against said stop, said stop havinga locating recess for receiving the stop, abutting.V ends of said side Wires, two

slides movable and from each other on said vbase transversely of the direction of said feed, means for effecting reciprocation of said slides, a' cutter carriedon the outer face'ofeach of said slides,

said cutters ycooperating to shear the gridstrip, and opposing end faces on said slidesY formed .to matewith said.v side wires and re-shape the transverse contour of the winding on the sheare yend of said grid strip.

3.l Az cutting andvformingmachine for "a grid ,strip including spaced parallel side Wires around which isa cage-like winding of finer wire, said vmachine including abase, a stop, means along which .said grid strip-is .slidably supporte-d for edgewise. feeding, movement ,againstv said .-.stop, said stop beingadjustable in .thedirectionof said feed, locating means on said stopfor receiving the stop abutting ends to said sidewires, two

,slides movable toward and from each otheron said base transversely of the direction of said feed, means for eifecting the reciprocation of said slides, a cutter secured to the outerv face of one lof .said slides, acutter securedto. the outer face ofthe other of said slides, a knife edge on each of said cutters, .la pilotI in the..planeof4 and' extending forward from said second-named. cutter above its knife Aedge and movableacross the .face of said first-namedv cutter, said.gri d stripvengagingbetween the said support therefor and said pilot, and opposing end faces -on .said slides formed to mate with said side wires and reshape the transverse contour ofI the. winding on Athe sheareol end of said grid strip.

.4.The combination, vin Aa. grid cutting and forming machine, of a basehaving'a channel, a slide guided -for reciprocating.movement= in said channel and means, foreifecting such move.- ment, atrend face on said slideformed to shape the grid,said slides having arecess in oneysde` thereof to provide a shoulder, a cutter set inesaid recess so that the thrust against the cutter.issus. tained by said shoulder; and a clamp on. Ithe recessed sidevof said slide for removably holding said cutter inV place, the 7engagingside wall,-

-0n the .clamp side of vsaid slide, of oneof the .relatively `movable members in said reciprocating. -movementbeing recessed toreceive (said clamp.

Ins a-grid cutting and forming machine, a combination in accor-dance with claim il characterized by said clamp receiving recess .being a llongitudinally extending groove in a sidewall of said slide.`

. 6. In aL grid cutting and forming machine, the

thereof part way of its ylength to provide ,alsnog .-f.

ably secured; tousaid slide, land an ,adjustable said shoulder portion in toengagement with said'v lnel at right angles theretof-of twosli'defsigu cutter. y

i7. In-a grid cuttingandforming machine hef combination, `with a base'h'aving a channeka 'an-.opening through the side wallsof thfcha d for reciprocating movement in said channel', o e", 'eachside of said opening-and meansjfor?"e'ifect'fh `ing such movement of the slides, a stop,l a man- .Y

drel axially'movable through Asaid stop to project acrosssaid channel from one endof said opening,

spring meansjormovingsaid mandrel into operative postion, a support along whicha grid strip is fed to engage over said mandrel from theA other end of said opening, opposing Aend 'faces onsaid slides formed to Ashape that portion of the grid strip engagingover said mandrel. a' cutter carried by each of said slides 'on vits side ,face adjacent said support, said side 'faces of the slides being recessed Vto Yreceive their reti fspective cutters which'engage each other` in shearing relation, a pilot extension on the outer one of said cutters and lying inthe plane there-f of above its cutting edge, said `*extension on movement of the slidestowardeach Yother slidably'engaging over lthe Aface of thek other cutter and inthe recess of the slide carrying the inner cutter, and means actuated on movement ofthe slides to inoperative position to eiecta retraction of said mandrel.

fa base, two opposing forming slides mountedff'or reciprocating movement on said base and means for eiecting such movement, of a mandrel centered with respect to said slides and mounted for axial movement, spring means functioning to normally hold said mandrel with a portion of its length' projected across the plane of movement offs'aid slides, a support along which `a vgrid strip isgnided for edgewise movement onto said mandrel, means for shearing the grid strip including a cutter carried by each 4ofy said slides, and means actuated onreturn movement of said slides forv effecting a retraction of said mandrel.

'10. Ina machine for cutting and forming-grids of the character described, the combination with a base having an opening, two opposing'forming slides mounted for reciprocating movement on said base and means for `effecting such movement, of la mandrel centered with respect to said slides and mounted forfaxial movement, spring means functioning to normally hold'said mandrel with a portion of its length projected across the plane of movement of said slides, a support along which a grid strip is guided for edgewise movement onto vsaid mandrel, means for shearing the grid strip including a cutter carried by each of said slides, means actuated onpreturn movement of 1Vsaid yslides to inoperative position for effecting a retraction of said'mandrel, and means for accelerating `the Vfall of the severed grid through the said opening.

1l. In a grid cutting and forming device the combination, with a guiding support for a grid strip, said strip including spaced parallel side wires around which a 'ne wire is coiled, of a stop against which an end of said ygrid'strip is fed, a mandrel guided for axial movement through said stop coaxially with the grid strip,ftwo opposing lslides guided for reciprocating movement transversely of saidmandrel, the. opposing faces kvof: Vsaid slides being` formed to .mate vlwith said' side fwires. and said mandrel and to reshape the transverse `eontcurm. the coiled wire, means for reciprocating said slides, cutterscarried by lsaid 4slides' for shearing said grid strip, spring vmeans for normally holding-said mandrel infoperative position to receive a pre-determined length of said grid strip, and means actuated on the inoperative vmovement of said slides to retract said mandrel.

'12; In a lgrid cutting and 'forming device the combination, with a guiding `support for a grid strip, said strip including spaced vparallel side wiresaround which a ne wire is coiled,` of a stop against'which `an end of said grid strip is fed, a mandrel guided for axial movement and aligned'coaxially with thegridY strip, two -op- "posing slides guided for reciprocating movement transversely of said-mandrel, means on said sup- `port `whereby the grid strip is guided in its feeding movementwith the axes of said support wires and said mandrel lying vin a plane at right angles 'to`said slides, the opposing faces of said slides 'matingvwithsaid 'side wires and said mandrelr and' formedto engage into the intervening space betweenthe mandrel 'and the side wires to reshape the transverse contour of the coiled Wire, `cutters carried by said slides for shearing said Vgrid strip, means for reciprocating said slides, spring means for normally holding said mandrel vinoperative position to receive a predetermined length of said grid strip, and means vactuated on `the inoperative movement of said slides to retract said mandrel.

13. In a grid cutting and forming machine, a base, a' longitudinally extending support upon which a grid strip is fed in endwise movement. a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement 4parallel to said support, a: motor, an operating connection vbetween said motor and said carriage, a Vhousing mounted upon said base and .having a Vchannel at right angles to said support,

there being va communicating grid discharge opening through the bottom of said channel and vsaid base, two opposing forming slides guided for movement toward and from each other in saidchannel, connections between said carriage and said slides whereby the forward and return `rmovements ofY said carriage affect, respectively,

the movement toward `and from each other of said slides, .an extension from said housing channeled to slidably receive a .spring pressed plunger normally urged to its forward position. an adjustable stop screw threaded into an end wallof said extension` and having an axial opening therethrough, a mandrel clamped .to said plunger and extending through said axial opening tor project normally across said channel coaxially with and to .receive a predetermined length of said grid strip, a cutter carried on the outer side face of each 'of said slides, means including a spring-controlled latch pivoted on said carriage for eiecting a withdrawal of said plunger and mandrel lon return movement of said carriage, and means 'engaging said latch to` disengage it from said plunger on return movement of the carriage.

14. A Ycombination in accordance with claim 13 characterized by said motor being an air cylinder, by said carriage being U-shaped and including across bar to which said operating connection ,isgpivoted andside arms straddling said housing, by the connections between said slides and said carriageI being pivoted links, and by the open sides. of the channelsl in said housing and housing extensionI being closed by removable kcover plates.

l5. In a grid cutting and forming machina'a a housing adiustably mounted upon said base, parallel side walls on said housing forming a channel, an opening being cut across said side walls at right angles to said channel, a carriage slidably mounted on said base and including side arms and a cross bar, the side arms straddling vsaid housing, two opposingt grid forming slides dinally to slidably receive a spring pressed plunger normally urged to its forward position, an adjustable stop screw threaded into said plate and having an axial opening therethrough, the head of said screw lying in said opening of the inner wall, a grip strip support extending in the direction of said carriage movement with its inner end projecting into the said opening in the outer channel wall, a mandrel clamped to said plunger and extending through the axial opening in said stop screw to project normally across said slide channel coaxially with and to receive a pre-determined length of a grid strip on said support, means including a spring controlled latch pivoted on said carriage for effecting a withdrawal of said plunger and mandrel on return movement of said carriage, means engaging said latch to disengage it from said plunger on return movement of the carriage, a Work discharge opening in said base and extending through the bottom wall of said channel, and means for directing a jet of air against the severed grid to accelerate its fall through said discharge opening.

16. In a grid cutting and forming machine, a base, a housing on said base, parallel side walls on said housing forming a channel, said walls having an opening therethrough at right angles to said base, a plate secured to the outer side face of the inner one of said walls and extending across the said opening therein, two opposing slides guided for movement toward and from each other in said channel, one each side of said opening, means for eiecting reciprocation of said slides, said slides including inserts removably attached to the opposing end faces thereof and grid forming portions on said inserts, cutters on the outer side faces of said slide-s, a support for a grid strip, the inner end of said support entering the said opening in the outer wall, an axially7 adjustable stop screw for the grid strip threaded into the said plate and having an axial opening therethrough terminating in a counterbore at its forward end, a head on said screw lying in the said opening of said inner wall, an extension on said head opposed to the body of the screw, a mandrel axially movable through said screw aperture and normally projecting beyond said head extension a distance equal to the length of grid to be cut, and means for retracting said mandrel on outward movement of said slides, said counterbore providing a locating means for the inner end of the grid strip, and an opening being formed through said base and the bottom of said channel for the discharge of the severed grid.

RALPH A. ENGLERT.

REFERENCES CITED rEhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 250,014 Stover Nov. 22, 1881 319,982 Lasar June 16, 1885 371,492 Detrick Oct. 11, 1887 456,533 Bold July 21, 1891 993,974 Fielding May 30, 1911 1,014,829 Lepper et al. Jan. 16, 1912 1,213,480 Hart Jan. 23, 1917 1,721,636 OBrien July 23, 1929 1,838,819 Flaws Dec. 29, 1931 1,978,108 Howald Oct. 23, 1934 1,994,307 Flaws Mar. 12, 1935 2,045,121 Carvalho June 23, 1936 2,116,971 Haslauer May 10, 1938 2,200,886 Kuhn May 14, 1940 2,212,886 Ruland Aug. 27, 1940 2,225,853 Baker Dec. 24, 1940 2,329,769 Kinyon Sept. 21, 1943 

